What are the seven cardinal virtues?

Answer

In the early fourth century, a monk named Evagrius Ponticus developed a list of cardinal sins—cardinal sins being foundational sins that lead to other sins. In AD 590, Pope Gregory revised this list to establish the modern concept of the “seven deadly sins”: lust, gluttony, greed, sloth, wrath, envy, and pride. These sins are widely recognized today through the Catholic Church and prominent literary and artistic works such as Dante’s The Divine Comedy, Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales, and Cadmus’s The Seven Deadly Sins. Alongside the seven deadly sins, there is a list of seven virtues that are considered the opposite of the cardinal sins. Neither the list of the seven deadly sins nor the list of the seven cardinal virtues is explicitly biblical.

Virtues are ingrained and steadfast tendencies to do what is morally right. The Catholic Church teaches that by cultivating habits of goodness and offering our best efforts, we can become more godly and resist the lure of sin. The Catholic Church places significant emphasis on the seven virtues as a way to counteract the seven deadly sins and ultimately conquer the darkness within us.

Various versions of the list of seven cardinal virtues exist. The Vatican’s version includes the following virtues: prudence, justice, fortitude, temperance, faith, hope, and charity. The first four virtues are classified as “cardinal” virtues because the other virtues hinge on them. The Catholic Church asserts that the cardinal virtues are developed through education, virtuous deeds, and unwavering perseverance. The last three virtues are known as theological virtues: faith, hope, and charity. They are termed “theological” virtues because of their direct connection to God.

Below is a concise explanation of each of the seven cardinal virtues:

Prudence—The capacity to discern the good in every situation and select the correct means to achieve it.

Justice—The consistent and

Firm determination to give what is owed to God and neighbor.

Fortitude — The display of strength in challenges and temptations; the capacity to conquer fear and other hindrances in one’s moral life.

Temperance — Moderation in the use of material possessions, enjoying pleasure in moderation, and pursuing what is virtuous.

Faith — The quality of believing in God and accepting that all He has proclaimed and disclosed is truthful.

Hope — An aspiration for the realm of heaven and everlasting life as one’s joy, placing reliance on Christ’s assurances and depending on the Holy Spirit’s grace.

Charity — Devotion to God above all for His own sake and affection for one’s fellow human beings as oneself out of love for God.

The Vatican’s declaration on charity reminds believers that all virtues are motivated by charity, which “binds everything together in perfect harmony” «And above all these things put on charity, which is the bond of perfectness. », (Colossians 3:14, ESV).

The Bible discusses numerous virtues. Scripturally, virtues emanate from God’s nature and are cultivated within us through the Holy Spirit’s influence. It is God’s intention to mold us into the likeness of Christ «For whom he did foreknow, he also did predestinate to be conformed to the image of his Son, that he might be the firstborn among many brethren. », (Romans 8:29). Once an individual places their trust in Christ, they become a new being «Therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold, all things are become new. », (2 Corinthians 5:17) and they commence reflecting the fruits of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control” (Galatians 5:22-23). By God’s grace and through the work of the Holy Spirit, we become more like Christ and are filled with virtue. The transformation to Christlikeness is not primarily a self-help effort where we try to live virtuously; instead, it relies on the work of the Holy Spirit (Philippians 2:12-13). Overcoming sin and living a godly life of virtue involves abiding in Christ (John 15), yielding to and keeping in step with the Holy Spirit (Galatians 5:16-18), and trusting in God and His provision for us «There hath no temptation taken you but such as is common to man: but God is faithful, who will not suffer you to be tempted above that ye are able; but will with the temptation also make a way to escape, that ye may be able to bear it. », (1 Corinthians 10:13).

Any and all sin separates us from God «For the wages of sin is death; but the gift of God is eternal life through Jesus Christ our Lord.», (Romans 6:23). Being “virtuous” is meaningless without a relationship with God, who alone is good (Isaiah 64:6;Luke 18:19). Our sin is only overcome through the finished work of Jesus Christ on the cross. We are instructed to “make every effort to supplement your faith with virtue” «And beside this, giving all diligence, add to your faith virtue; and to virtue knowledge; », (2 Peter 1:5), and the list of seven cardinal virtues might help us identify areas to work on. But we remember that true virtue comes only through the work of theHoly Spirit, who dwells within all those who place their faith in Christ (Philippians 2:12-13). Our salvation was initiated by the Holy Spirit, and He will also bring the process of sanctification to completion. “Are you so foolish? After beginning by the Spirit, are you now trying to finish by the flesh?” (Galatians 3:3).